During the board’s regular meeting last week, it was revealed that the indirect cost account of PSS continuously assists in the “other expenditures” of the school system.
PSS federal programs officer Tim Thornburgh told the board that every year, approximately $800,000 to $850,000 goes into the indirect cost account.
The account comprises the administrative costs set aside from several PSS federal grants.
Thornburgh said 16 individuals are being paid by the indirect cost account at present.
He said these are the persons who work on federal grants.
Some portion of the account is being used for the procurement and maintenance of office equipment such as printers and machines as well as the technical upgrades and maintenance of the management system.
Thornburgh said the account likewise provides funding for the professional development of the Board of Education amounting to $50,000 so that BOE members can attend training and workshops.
Commissioner of Education Rita A. Sablan wanted to know if the same account can be used for the school system’s monthly rent payments to the Retirement Fund.
Based on the PSS Facts & Figures report for 2008-2009, PSS gets from the local government $35.4 million of which $33.1 million will pay for personnel and $2.3 million for “all others.”
The federal government provides PSS a total of $33.7 million in grants of which $24 million will be used for school needs and $9.6 million for the salary of the federally funded personnel.
